Nicole Kingrey v. Michael Kingrey (mem. dec.)

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any Aug 13 2018, 7:38 am
court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK
the defense of res judicata, collateral Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE
Alice B. Blevins William H. Davis
Bartanen Law Office, LLC Davis Davis & Layson
Salem, Indiana Corydon, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Nicole Kingrey, August 13, 2018
Appellant-Petitioner, Court of Appeals Case No.
18A-DR-533
v. Appeal from the Harrison Circuit
Court
Michael Kingrey, The Honorable John T. Evans,
Appellee-Respondent. Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
31C01-1601-DR-16
Robb, Judge.
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Case Summary and Issue
[1] Nicole Kingrey (“Mother”) and Michael Edward Kingrey (“Father”) are the
parents of one child, B.K. When the parties divorced in 2016, the trial court
approved the parties’ agreement to share joint legal custody of B.K. with
Mother to have primary physical custody and parenting time to be divided
approximately equally. In March 2017, Mother filed a petition to modify
custody seeking primary legal and physical custody in advance of B.K.
enrolling in kindergarten. The trial court found a substantial change had
occurred making the current custody arrangements no longer in B.K.’s best
interest and granted sole legal and physical custody to Father. Mother now
appeals, raising two issues which we consolidate and restate as whether the trial
court erred in modifying custody in favor of Father. Concluding the trial court
did not abuse its discretion in modifying custody, we affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] When Mother and Father were divorced in June 2016, they agreed to the
following regarding B.K.:
• They would have joint legal custody of her with Mother being the
primary physical custodian.
• That it was in B.K.’s best interests to not follow the Indiana Parenting
Time Guidelines; rather, because of their work schedules, the parties
would share parenting time equally.
• Father would pay $70.00 per week in child support.
• Father would maintain insurance for B.K.
• Father would be responsible for all controlled child rearing expenses.
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• They would alternate claiming B.K. for tax purposes, beginning with
Mother claiming her in 2016.
In February 2017, the parties agreed to modify parenting time and child
support. Pursuant to their agreement, specific parenting time was altered but
still shared equally, and Father’s child support obligation was lowered to $25.00
per week. The parties also agreed that B.K. would attend kindergarten at New
Middletown.
[3] In March 2017, Mother filed a petition to modify custody, alleging the
following substantial and continuing change of circumstances:
a. Father has failed to maintain a stable and consistent residence
for [B.K.]
b. Father has failed to meet [B.K.]’s basic needs and provide her
with necessities during his parenting time.
c. The Father maintains [B.K.] in a tumultuous environment
during his parenting time, or leaves [B.K.]with relatives and does
not remain with her in violation of Mother’s rights of first refusal.
d. The parties do not reside in the same school system and
[B.K.] is approaching school age and a determination needs to be
made to provide [B.K.]with a stable educational environment.
Appellant’s Appendix, Volume 2 at 28-29. Accordingly, Mother requested
custody be modified to grant her primary legal and physical1 custody of B.K.
1
Pursuant to the parties’ agreements, Mother already had primary physical custody of B.K. but the parties
had also agreed to a parenting time schedule that granted them roughly equal time with B.K.
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[4] After the parties were unable to reach an agreement through court-ordered
mediation, the trial court held a hearing on February 5, 2018. At that time,
B.K. was in preschool and would be starting kindergarten in the fall. Mother
and Father shared a 3/2/2 parenting time arrangement where one week Mother
had B.K. Monday through Wednesday, Father had B.K. Thursday and Friday,
and Mother had B.K. Saturday and Sunday. The parties would then switch the
schedule the following week. B.K.’s primary childcare was with Father’s dad
and stepmom.
[5] Father lives with his wife and her two children. When B.K. stays with Father,
she shares a room with one of her stepsisters. Father drives a truck locally and
goes to work at 6:00 a.m., getting off anywhere between 2:30 p.m. and 5:00
p.m. On school days when B.K. is with Father, she gets up at approximately
5:30 a.m., and either Father or his wife drops her off with relatives on the way
to work. B.K. gets ready and goes to preschool from there. Preschool ends
before noon, and B.K. goes to either Father’s dad and stepmother’s home or to
Father’s mother’s home for the afternoon. Whichever parent has B.K. that day
picks her up from there. Father wishes B.K. to go to Morgan Elementary in
Palmyra, Indiana, for kindergarten and wishes to continue this arrangement for
transporting her to and from school.
[6] At the time of the February 2017 agreement, Mother lived in Brandenburg,
Kentucky, with her fiancé. By the time of the February 2018 hearing, however,
Mother was living with her mother in Central, Indiana, while she and her
fiancé build a house in Webster, Kentucky, next to her fiancé’s parents’ home.
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Mother and her fiancé are expecting a child together in the fall of 2018, and at
the new house, each child will have a bedroom. Mother wishes B.K. to go to
kindergarten in Meade County, Kentucky, where the new house will be.
Mother will be on maternity leave when B.K. starts kindergarten, but when she
goes back to work in Floyds Knobs, she will avail herself of Meade County
schools’ early drop off before school starts at 8:00 a.m., and Mother has
arranged for Father’s stepmother to pick B.K. up from school in the afternoons.
Father’s dad and stepmother live in Elizabeth, Indiana, approximately fifteen
minutes from the Meade County school and approximately thirty minutes from
Morgan Elementary.
[7] Mother testified in relation to the allegations of her petition that Father had
moved four or five times between three different residences and had changed
jobs three times since February 2017. She also testified that in the past, Father
had always taken B.K. to his dad and stepmom’s when he needed childcare,
and she “[a]bsolutely” supports them as caregivers for B.K. because “[t]hat’s
where she’s always gone until [Father] took her somewhere else.” Transcript,
Volume 2 at 18. Father had recently started taking B.K. to his mother’s more
often, however, and Mother has concerns about that arrangement because she
alleges Father’s mother has a criminal record, does not have a driver’s license,
has too many people staying in her house, and smokes around B.K., who has
asthma. Mother testified that B.K. often does not have shoes or a coat when
Mother picks B.K. up from Father’s mother. Mother also noted B.K. had
indicated she would rather stay with Father’s stepmom than his mother.
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Mother believed the early hours and constantly changing schedule were causing
B.K. stress, as she acts out, is extremely tired, and has trouble focusing in
preschool. Mother wanted to change the 3/2/2 schedule to a more traditional
parenting time structure where B.K. would be with her during the week and
have alternating weekends with Father so her situation would be stable
throughout the school week.
[8] Father denied his mother—or anyone in her house—was a smoker, and
although he acknowledged that his mother did not have a driver’s license, he
noted that she never drives B.K. anywhere. Either his sister or grandmother
drives B.K. to school when B.K. is at his mother’s, and his grandmother picks
her up when she is returning to his mother’s after school. Father believes
attending Morgan Elementary would be in B.K.’s best interest because she had
made friends in her preschool who would be going to Morgan. Moreover, it is
“in this area . . . where she’s always been and . . . [t]here’s tons of family and
very, very close friends around here.” Tr., Vol. 2 at 50-51. Father also noted
that if the court felt it best to keep the equal parenting time schedule, he still felt
Morgan Elementary is within reason for both parties, “but if it is fifty/fifty my
recommendation is maybe a Monday to Monday type schedule. . . . [I]t is still
beneficial for [B.K.] to be in the same household for a solid week at a time.” Id.
at 51.
[9] On February 6, 2018, the trial court entered the following order:
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7. This Court has considered all relevant factors, including those
set forth in Indiana Code 31-17-2-8. There has been a substantial
change in more than one of the enumerated factors.
8. This Court also has considered all the relevant factors,
including those set forth in Indiana Code 31-17-2-15. There has
been a substantial change in more than one of the enumerated
factors.
9. Joint legal custody is not in the best interest of the child.
10. It is in the best interest of [B.K.] that Father have sole legal
and physical custody.
11. Therefore, the Court grants Father sole legal and physical
custody of [B.K.] Mother shall have parenting time every
weekend from Friday at 6:00 p.m. until Sunday at 6:00 p.m.
except the last weekend of every month which shall be Father’s
weekend. (A weekend of the month shall be determined by the
month to which Saturday belongs.) Holidays, special days, and
summers shall be divided as described in the Indiana Parenting
Time Guidelines. Father shall have all other parenting time.
The parent whose parenting time is beginning shall pick the child
up from the home of the parent whose parenting time is
concluding.
***
15. There shall be no smoking in [B.K.]’s presence due to her
asthma. Each parent is responsible for insuring [sic] that third
parties do not smoke in [B.K.]’s presence.
Id. at 32-33. Mother now appeals.
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Discussion and Decision
I. Standard of Review
[10] Mother claims the trial court abused its discretion in granting sole legal custody
of B.K. to Father. We review custody modifications for an abuse of discretion
“with a preference for granting latitude and deference to our trial judges in
family law matters.” Werner v. Werner, 946 N.E.2d 1233, 1244 (Ind. Ct. App.
2011), trans. denied. This is because it is the trial court that observes the parties’
conduct and demeanor and hears their testimony firsthand. In re Paternity of
C.S., 964 N.E.2d 879, 883 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012), trans. denied. We will not
reweigh the evidence or judge the credibility of the witnesses. Id. Rather, we
will reverse the trial court’s custody determination only if the decision is
“clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances or the
reasonable inferences drawn therefrom.” Id. (citation omitted). “[I]t is not
enough that the evidence might support some other conclusion, but it must
positively require the conclusion contended for by the appellant before there is a
basis for reversal.” Kirk v. Kirk, 770 N.E.2d 304, 307 (Ind. 2002). Given our
deferential standard of review, it is relatively rare to reverse a trial court’s
decision regarding child custody on appeal, although it is not impossible. See
Montgomery v. Montgomery, 59 N.E.3d 343, 350 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016), trans.
denied.
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II. Change of Custody
A. Physical Custody
[11] Mother contends the trial court erred in modifying sole physical custody of
B.K. from her to Father. When modifying custody, the trial court is guided by
Indiana Code section 31-17-2-21 (“Section 21”), which states modification is
only appropriate when it is in the best interests of the child and there is a
substantial change in one or more of the factors considered when making an
initial custody order. This current iteration of Section 21, dating from 1994,
eliminates the prior need to show that an existing custody order is unreasonable
and that the change of circumstances is so decisive in nature as to make a
change in custody necessary for the welfare of the child; rather, the change in
circumstances must be substantial. Julie C. v. Andrew C., 924 N.E.2d 1249, 1258
(Ind. Ct. App. 2010). In turn, Indiana Code section 31-17-2-8 (“Section 8”) lists
the factors to be considered in making an initial custody determination:
(1) The age and sex of the child.
(2) The wishes of the child’s parent or parents.
(3) The wishes of the child, with more consideration to the
child’s wishes if the child is at least (14) years of age.
(4) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with:
(A) the child’s parent or parents;
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(B) the child’s sibling; and
(C) any other person who may significantly affect the
child’s best interests.
(5) The child’s adjustment to the child’s:
(A) home;
(B) school; and
(C) community.
(6) The mental and physical health of all individuals involved.
(7) Evidence of a pattern of domestic or family violence by either
parent.
(8) Evidence that the child has been cared for by a de facto
custodian . . . .
[12] Here, the trial court stated that it considered all the relevant factors in Section 8,
found substantial changes in multiple factors, and determined that a change of
custody was in B.K.’s best interests. Although Mother recites the standard of
review when a trial court makes findings of fact and conclusions thereon, see
Appellant’s Brief at 6-7, the trial court did not actually make any findings of fact
detailing which factors had substantially changed or how B.K.’s best interests
were served by a change in custody. We note, however, that the trial court is
not required to make findings of fact in modifying custody unless requested to do
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so by a party. In re Paternity of P.R., 940 N.E.2d 346, 351 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010).
Section 21 does not require the trial court to specify which factors have
substantially changed. Kanach v. Rogers, 742 N.E.2d 987, 989 (Ind. Ct. App.
2001). “[A]ll that is required to support modification of custody under [Section
21] is a finding that a change would be in the child’s best interests, a
consideration of the factors listed in [Section 8], and a finding that there has
been a substantial change in one of those factors.” Nienaber v. Nienaber, 787
N.E.2d 450, 456 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003).
[13] We note first that Mother points out the modification is “in excess of that
requested by Father.” Appellant’s Br. at 17. It is true that Father did not
specifically request that primary physical or legal custody be changed to him.
However, if one parent files a custody modification request, a trial court may
instead modify custody in favor of the other parent, even if that parent did not
file a cross-petition to modify custody, where it is clear from the record that the
other parent desired custody. Bailey v. Bailey, 7 N.E.3d 340, 344 (Ind. Ct. App.
2014) (citing Meneou v. Meneou, 503 N.E.2d 902, 904-05 (Ind. Ct. App. 1987)).
Father did not have custody thrust upon him unwillingly here; it is clear from
the record that he desired to retain at least the equal parenting time with B.K.
that he was already exercising.2
2
In addition, Father filed a brief in this appeal defending the trial court’s modification in his favor and
requests the trial court’s judgment be affirmed.
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[14] Both parties agreed the current 3/2/2 parenting time schedule was not
sustainable once B.K. began kindergarten. Mother noted that “we each miss
out on a lot of things with school because with the back and forth we can’t keep
up with what’s going on each day with the other. And [B.K.] stays really
stressed out with the back and forth.” Tr., Vol. 2 at 10. Mother testified that
she wanted B.K. to have “the same thing throughout the week for school is all.”
Id. at 13. And she wanted to have B.K. with her during the week because she
thought B.K. would “really, really struggle” if she was with Father for a week at
a time due to her “very, very close dependent relationship with me.” Tr., Vol. 2
at 64. Mother wanted to have B.K. attend school in Kentucky and to have
primary physical custody so B.K. would be with her for school days.3 Father
wanted B.K. to attend school in Indiana.4
[15] The record supports the trial court’s determination that there was a substantial
change with respect to at least one of the factors listed in Section 8 – namely,
B.K. had reached school age, see Ind. Code § 31-17-2-8(1); the parties’ wishes
with respect to how parenting time was to be divided and their wishes with
3
Because Mother already had primary physical custody pursuant to the parties’ agreements, it is unclear why
she filed a petition to modify physical custody to grant her what she already had.
4
When the parties entered into their February 2017 agreement, Mother was living in Brandenburg,
Kentucky, and the parties agreed that B.K. would attend New Middletown Elementary School in Corydon,
Indiana. By the time of the hearing on Mother’s petition to modify custody, both parties had moved and
neither party advocated for that school. We do note, however, that at the same time Mother agreed to the
3/2/2 parenting time schedule, Mother also agreed to B.K. going to kindergarten in Indiana, approximately
thirty minutes from her Kentucky home at that time. Morgan Elementary School in Indiana, Father’s
current choice of school for B.K., is approximately forty minutes from Meade County, Kentucky, the
location of Mother’s intended new home.
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respect to where B.K. would attend school had changed, see Ind. Code § 31-17-
2-8(2); and Mother was moving to Kentucky, farther away from Father and
B.K.’s extended family on both sides, into a new home with her fiancé near her
fiancé’s family, was expecting another child, and wanted to place B.K. in a
school system in which she had no previous ties, see Ind. Code § 31-17-2-8(4),
(5). Although Mother addresses each factor in Section 8, 5 highlighting those
factors and facts that she believes are in her favor, the trial court stated that it
had considered each of the relevant factors in light of the testimony adduced at
the hearing, and Mother’s argument essentially amounts to a request we
reweigh the evidence and find in her favor. We “are in a poor position to look
at a cold transcript of the record, and conclude that the trial judge, who saw the
witnesses, observed their demeanor, and scrutinized their testimony as it came
from the witness stand, did not properly understand the significance of the
evidence.” Steele-Giri v. Steele, 51 N.E.3d 119, 124 (Ind. 2016) (citation
omitted). In order to reverse a trial court’s ruling, the evidence must positively
require the conclusion the appellant advocates. Id. Mindful of that standard
and of the substantial deference we accord trial courts in family law matters, we
5
Mother “specifically note[s] a disagreement with the ruling” with respect to “[e]vidence that the child has
been cared for by a de facto custodian . . . .” Appellant’s Br. at 9, 12-13 (citing Ind. Code § 31-17-2-8(8)). It
is difficult to discern what the “specific disagreement” is given that the trial court did not make any specific
findings about this factor. However, Mother references evidence that B.K. was routinely cared for by
Father’s father and stepmother when not at school. Mother apparently misunderstands the nature of a “de
facto custodian.” A “de facto custodian” is defined by Indiana Code section 31-9-2-35.5 as a person “who
has been the primary caregiver for, and financial support of, a child who has resided with the person for at
least . . . one (1) year if the child is at least three (3) years of age.” Clearly, Father’s father and stepmother, no
matter how often they provide care for B.K., are not de facto custodians under this definition, and this factor
is, therefore, not relevant to a custody modification decision.
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cannot say the trial court abused its discretion by modifying physical custody of
B.K. and placing her primarily in Father’s care.
B. Legal Custody
[16] Mother contends the trial court erred in modifying legal custody because
“[n]either parent had requested the Court modify the legal custody of the child
. . . .” Id. at 17. Contrary to this assertion, however, Mother’s petition states
that she is requesting “to be granted primary legal and physical custody of
[B.K.]” Appellant’s App., Vol. 2 at 29 (emphasis added). Therefore, the trial
court appropriately considered whether joint legal custody remained a viable
option.
[17] As with determinations regarding modification of physical custody discussed
above, the trial court is still guided by Sections 21 and 8 when modifying legal
custody. See Miller v. Carpenter, 965 N.E.2d 104, 109 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012). But
also relevant to whether a court should modify joint legal custody to sole legal
custody is whether there has been a substantial change in one or more of the
factors the trial court considered when making the initial award of joint
custody. Julie C., 924 N.E.2d at 1260. Those factors, enumerated in Indiana
Code section 31-17-2-15 (“Section 15”), are:
(1) the fitness and suitability of each of the persons awarded joint
custody;
(2) whether the persons awarded joint custody are willing and
able to communicate and cooperate in advancing the child’s
welfare;
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(3) the wishes of the child, with more consideration given to the
child’s wishes if the child is at least fourteen (14) years of age;
(4) whether the child has established a close and beneficial
relationship with both of the persons awarded joint custody;
(5) whether the persons awarded joint custody:
(A) live in close proximity to each other; and
(B) plan to continue to do so; and
(6) the nature of the physical and emotional environment in the
home of each of the persons awarded joint custody.
[18] As with physical custody, the trial court stated that it had considered all the
relevant factors in Section 15 regarding legal custody and had found a
substantial change in more than one of those factors. Again, the trial court did
not specify which factors it found to have substantially changed, but it
concluded that joint legal custody was no longer in B.K.’s best interests. In
deciding whether joint legal custody would be in the best interests of the child,
it is “a matter of primary, but not determinative, importance that the persons
awarded joint custody have agreed to an award of joint legal custody.” Ind.
Code § 31-17-2-15; see Higginbotham v. Higginbotham, 822 N.E.2d 609, 612 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2004) (affirming trial court’s modification of joint legal custody to sole
legal custody in mother even though parents agreed to continue joint custody).
Although the parties initially agreed to joint legal custody of B.K., it appears
from Mother’s petition that she, at least, no longer wishes to share joint
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custody. The parties cannot agree where to enroll B.K. in school and have
recently begun to disagree about which family members are appropriate to care
for B.K. Mother is moving such that parties will live even farther from one
another than they already did.
[19] As with the physical custody determination, Mother again addresses each of the
factors to be considered in a decision regarding joint custody, highlighting those
facts that would support continuing joint legal custody. The trial court is in the
best position to weigh the evidence and assess witness credibility, and we
cannot say it abused its discretion by modifying joint legal custody to sole legal
custody in Father, especially considering the decision for Father to exercise
primary physical custody of B.K.
Conclusion
[20] The trial court considered each of the relevant statutory factors bearing on a
modification of custody, found a substantial change in multiple factors, and
concluded B.K.’s best interests were best served by modifying custody. Finding
no abuse of discretion, we affirm the trial court’s decision awarding sole
physical and legal custody of B.K. to Father.
[21] Affirmed.
Baker, J., and May, J., concur.
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